Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02261194 1998-12-29
W O 97149473 PCT~US97/11261
--1--
WATER TREATMENT DEVICE AND METHOD
SPECIFICATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a point of use water
purification unit designed to continuously and completely
purify water at all points of use such as homes,
restaurants, hotels, military, sea and field units as well
as desalination of sea water at the point of use. The
device will remove all chemicals, all microorganisms and
replete the water with essential ground minerals.
2. General Background of the Invention
Pure water for consumption, use in cooking and to
maintain hygiene is a universal need. The purity and
safety of water is deteriorating world wide. Tap water is
no longer safe in major U.S. and foreign cities. It is
contaminated by microbes, chemicals, heavy metals and in
many instances ground water and sewage which gets into the
distribution systems which are old and dilapidated.
Improvement of municipal water treatment systems will be of
little benefit. In line filtration and treatment along the
distribution system will also be of little benefit because
the distribution systems are old, leaky and in some
instances are contaminated ~y lead joints. Pure water for
our cities is a big challenge which will not be soon
solved. It is therefore imperative that point of use water
purification for all of the water used in the home be the
immediate solution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to
provide a device that will accomplish the function of
providing at the point of use a water treatment system that
can convert any water into microbe free, chemical free,
CA 02261194 1998-12-29
WO9~/49473 rCT~Ss7/11261
--2--
chlorine free, pleasant tasting, soft, mineral repleted
water for the whole house, apartment, restaurant or other
establishment.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system
for water purification in which the feed water is preheated
through a heat exchanger which takes energy from the
systems refrigeration unit (condenser side) in order to
conserve maximum energy.
Another object of this invention is to provide a thin
water layer, centrifugal, vacuum chamber for degassing the
feed water.
An additional object of this invention is to take
advantage of the peculiar and little known physical
character of degassed water. Pure water, when free of
dissolved gases, may be heated above 100 degrees C (up to
180 degrees C.) without boiling, but upon further heating,
boiling may occur with explosive violence. This steam at
(100 degrees C.) occupies a volume 1700 times greater than
water at lOo degrees C.
It is a further object of the invention to isolate the
degassing chamber by a series of three (3) in line valves.
These valves are electronic and controlled by the on board
computer controller.
Another object of the invention is to heat the
degassed feed water to 260 degrees F. under pressure and
then spray it into a heated 350 degrees F. vacuum chamber,
where it flash vaporizes in an explosive manner, thereby
providing the pressure and vaporization to evacuate the
chamber into the condenser.
Another object of the invention is to provide a brine
chilled counter current heat exchanger at 20 degrees F. to
condense the vaporized pressured steam to chemically and
microbiologically pure water at ambient temperature.
An additional object of this invention is to provide
a holding tank containing a W light source to maintain a
microbial free condition of the water and providing high
water level and lower water level sensors to regulate
CA 02261194 1998-12-29
w097/49473 PcT~ss7~ll26
system operation through the on board microprocessor.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a
booster pump which through in line pressure sensors will
provide the desired pressure and flow throughout the
system. This pressure and flow will be augmented by
smaller in line pumps, if necessary.
A further object of the invention is to pass the water
of this invention, as it flows from the holding tank,
through a colloidal mineral column (to replace trace
minerals) and lastly through a carbon column to assure good
taste and freshness of the water.
An additional object of the invention is to provide an
electronically heated (or other energy source) vegetable
oil circulated throuqh a jacket in the preheat heat
exchanger and heated vacuum chamber.
A further object of the invention is to provide an
electrical refrigeration unit to chill the brine of the
counter current condensing chamber and to provide heat for
the preheater.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a
back wash capability for each part of the system which will
contain a scale dissolving potable water for keeping the
system clean. This back wash will be timed and sequenced
by the computer processor.
Another object of the invention is to provide four
degassing centrifugal vacuum chambers and four heated
vacuum vaporization chambers, each of which operates as a
batch process and is sequenced by the computer controller
as sensors indicate the unit is operational from the stand
point of temperature, pressure and vacuum.
Additional objects and advantages of the present
invention will either be set forth in the description that
follows, will be obvious from the description or may be
learned by practice of the invention. The object and
advantages of the invention may be obtained by the
apparatus and method particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
CA 02261194 1998-12-29
W097/49473 PCT~S97/11261
--4--
In accordance with the principles of the present
invention as embodied and as broadly described herein, a
point of use water purification unit is revealed which
continuously and completely purifies water at all points of
use such as homes, restaurants, hotels and military field
units, as well as desalinates sea water at the point of
use. The device will remove all chemicals, kill all
microorganisms and replete the water with essential ground
minerals. The device is comprised of a computer monitored
and controlled system for degassing, super heating and
exploding water into a vacuum chamber, in which instant
steam results. The steam is condensed in a counter current
cold brine apparatus and stored in a holding tank
containing ultraviolet light and is evacuated to the point
of use by a booster pump flowing through a mineral
repleting column and a carbon filter for freshness and the
assurance of the absence of off taste.
Containment means are provided for holding these
various components together in a compact package. The
entire unit is monitored and controlled by a series of
sensors, drivers and a computer processor.
Preferably, the containment means and all components
should be covered compact and packaged for ease of
installation and simplicity of operation. The unit may be
housed either indoors or outdoors.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the
presently preferred embodiment of the invention and serve
to explain the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature, objects,
and advantages of the present invention, reference should
be had to the following detailed description, read in
conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like
reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a comprehensive schematic drawing of the
entire unit with its various components as well as
CA 02261194 1998-12-29
W O97149473 PCT~US97111261
--5--
indications as to the working mechanism.
FIGU~E 2 is a detailed schematic of the intake water
preheater unit which preheats the water from the cooling
refrigeration unit condenser, showing the flow of hot gas
and cool intake water in a counter current direction with
the gas pipe being housed inside the water pipe.
FIGURE 3 is a detailed schematic of the degassing
centrifugal vacuum chamber; one of four such chambers
working on a batch principle and sequenced by a computer.
FIGURE 4 is a detailed schematic of the counter
current heat exchanger which will bring the degassed water
temperature to 260 degrees F. under pressure.
FIGURE 5 is a detailed schematic of the heated vacuum
expansion chamber of the invention with its heat source and
regulator valve mechanism.
FIGURE 6 is a detailed schematic of the brine counter
current heat exchanger for cooling the steam distillate.
FIGURE 7 is a detailed schematic of the ambient
temperature holding tank, with level sensors and
ultraviolet treatment tanks.
FIGURE 8 is a detailed schematic of the filter tank:
1) mineral repletion column 2) carbon filter column.
DETAILED DESCR~PTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
References will not be made in detail to the presently
preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of which
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout
the drawings, like referenced characters are used to
designate like elements.
The water purification and conditioning unit of the
invention are schematically illustrated in Figures 1-8.
Figure 1 reveals a general schematic of the entire system
of this invention. Raw water from the source comes into
the system through conduit 1. In Figure 2, it then flows
into counter current heat exchanger 2 where the water is
preheated and the gas from the compressor is cooled. Water
enters the heat exchanger 2 through conduit 1. The heated
refrigerant enters the heat exchanger through conduit 2a
CA 02261194 1998-12-29
-W 097/49473 PCTrUS97/11261
--6--
which traverses the system inside conduit 2b. All of the
conduits are held by attachment means 2c. This system
flows in a counter current fashion and allows the most
rapid heat exchanger feasible. Feed water then enters
manifold 15 and is distributed to degassing pots 11 of
Figure 3 through conduit 16 and controlled by valve 10
which is regulated by computer 38. The four degassing pots
have an inner centrifugally operated pot lli which is about
four liters in size. The centrifugal motion is driven by
a small high speed motor llh on the bottom of the pot llh.
There is an outer housing an inflow valve 10, an outflow
valve 14 and a vacuum valve 12. Water flows into the
centrifugal chamber where it is spun at 3-5 thousand RPM
contained in a vacuum of 18-20 inches by circular vacuum
pump 9 for 10-20 seconds. The unit is then stopped and the
vacuum valve closed, water drains in to manifold 40. The
four degassing chambers are being sequenced by the computer
such that one is always filling, one is emptying and the
other two are spinning or pumping vacuum. The detailed
operation of the degassing is as follows. Preheated feed
water enters the degassing chamber through conduit 16,
through valve 10 and enters the centrifugal chamber lli
through opening llk of baffle llj. Water is sprayed onto
the walls of chamber lli by rotary water jets lld. Chamber
111 is rotated at 3-5000 RPM by motor llh while a vacuum is
maintained through conduit 17. The vacuum is protected
from water by baffle llj and llb. Vacuum ports llc are
above baffle llb. In sequence, vacuum is applied,
centrifugal speed is maximum and water is injected onto the
walls of lli. Vacuum is released and the degassed water
exits through conduit 13 and valve 14.
Degassed water then enters counter current heat
exchanger 25 where it is heated to 260 degrees F. In
Figure 4, heated vegetable oil at 260 degrees F. enters
heat exchanger 25 through conduit 25b. Degassed water
enters through conduit 40. Heated degassed water exits
conduit 26 after picking up the heat in the counter current
~ . . ,
CA 02261194 1998-12-29
W 097/49473 PCTAUS97111261 --7--
exchanger. The oil exits through conduit 25a to be
reheated. Insulation 43 covers the heated oil conduits.
The water then flows into conduit 26 where it is injected
through valve 27 into the heated (360 degrees F.) vacuum
expansion chamber. Figure 5 represents the heated vacuum
expansion chamber 20. Degassed water at 250 degrees F. and
10 PSI pressure is injected through valve 27 and conduit 28
(which goes through baffle 20c) onto the wall of the
chamber through ejection ports 2Ob. The inner surface of
the chamber is 350 degrees F. Prior to the injection, a
vacuum is pulled through conduit 23, which is shielded by
baffle 20d. The vacuum is locked in by valves 24, 21 and
27. Valve 27 opens to inject the water. It then closes
and 21 opens to allow exit for the steam through opening
22. The chamber then recycles. The water instantly
vaporizes, leaving all residue behind as the steam ejects
itself through vale 21 and conduit 22 into the counter
current brine chiller 30. Figure 6 represents the brine
counter current heat exchange for cooling the distillate.
Steam enters the counter current heat exchanger through
conduit 22. The chilled brine (20 degrees F.) enters in
the opposite direction through conduit 30b. The condensed,
cool, pure water exits through conduit 30a and the heat
laden brine exits through conduit 30c to return to the
chiller. The chilled brine conduits are insulate by
covering 8. Free, microbe free water then drains into
holding tank 31. Figure 7 represents the holding tank 31
for the purified water. Pure water enters that tank
through conduit 3lb. Level sensors 39 and 39a control the
operation of the system. W tubes 31a maintain a microbe
free tank of pure water. Water is then pumped by pump 32
into filter bank. Water level sensor 39 sends data to the
computer which controls the various activation areas of the
system. The tank contains W sterilizer lamps to assure
continued microbe free water. The water is then taken to
the point of use through pump 32. Figure 8 represents the
filter bank of this invention which is made up of a mineral
CA 0226ll94 l998-l2-29
W097/49473 PCT~S97/11261
--8--
repletion column and an activate charcoal filter with
conduit means, automated valve means and automatic back
wash means. The pure water from the holding tank enters
the mineral replacement unit 33 through conduit 33a. The
mineral replacement unit contains porous rock to which is
bound a carefully calculated mineral composition held to
the porous rock as pumice by a proprietary mineral colloid.
The mineral colloid mixture is held in feeder tank 33b and
is programmed to cycle the desired amount through column
33, conduit 33g and conduit 33d. After cycling, any excess
is injected into 33f. This solution then flows through
conduit 33g on demand to back wash the entire system.
Water flows from conduit 33a through the automated back
wash system, through conduit 35 into auto backwash 34a,
then through conduit 34d to the bottom of the carbon filter
bank and then out through conduits 37 to the point of
consumption.
Preheater (heat exchanger) 25 is heated by vegetable
oil from heat source and pump 29 (260 degrees F.). Heat
jackets for vacuum expansion chamber 20 are kept at 350
degrees F. by circulating vegetable oil pumped into and
returning through conduit 41 into manifold 42. The
conduits 43, 41 and 42 are double conduits (both inflow and
outflow).
Since there are four (4) parallel batch steps in this
device design, the flow of water has no detectable
difference from a flow through system.
Automatic backwash is computer controlled and is done
at times of no use demands on the water level in tank 31.
The following table lists the part numbers and part
descriptions as used herein and in the drawings attached
hereto.
Because many varying and different embodiments may be
made within the scope of the inventive concept herein
taught, and because many modifications may be made in the
embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the
... ..
CA 02261194 1998-12-29
- W O 97/49473 PCTrUS97/11261
_g _
descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood
that the details herein are to be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
What is claimed as invention is:
